DISCOURSE MARKER ANALYSIS OF DUAL IDENTITY OF CHANGEZ IN RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST

Abstract

This study aims to examine the discourse markers and their implications inside a text. The research will explore the dual identities of the protagonist Changez in Mohsin Hamid’s novel “The Reluctant Fundamentalist,” through an in-depth investigation. The critical discourse analysis is conducted using the framework of Van Dijk. The selected chapter of the book, chapter 3, where the internal conflict and changing viewpoints are prominently featured, is the subject of the study. Changez’s dual character is demonstrated through a variety of discourse markers, including; contrast (e.g. but), emphasis (e.g. indeed), hesitation (e.g. well) to uncover the ways in which Changez navigates his dual identity. Van Dijk framework provides tools for analyzing both macrostructure and microstructure of the text, examining how linguistic features reveal the underlying cognitive and social context of Changez’s dual identity. An in-depth examination of the character’s complexity is provided by the purely qualitative design and thematic analysis, which reveals how the discourse markers represent Changez’s internal conflicts and changing points of view. The findings illustrate the interplay between the cultural heritage and his experiences in the United States, providing valuable insights into the intersection of language, power and identity. It also provides a comprehensive understanding of how linguistic features construct identity in postcolonial literature. This study contributes to the growing field of critical discourse analysis, by demonstrating how simple discourse markers play a significant role in revealing the complex identities in literary text.

Keywords: Discourse Markers, CDA, Dual identity, Postcolonial literature